Press Release
Hon. Henry Charles Usher, Minister of the Public Service and Disaster Risk Management, along with Mr. Rolando Zetina, Chief Executive Officer, convened a high-level meeting on February 12, 2026, with Ms. Saskia Carusi, Deputy Chief of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) – Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean, and Mr. Raúl Salazar, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Belize and El Salvador.
The meeting focused on advancing Belize’s Comprehensive Disaster Management Country Work Programme and strengthening collaboration between the Government of Belize and the United Nations system in disaster risk management (DRM), governance, and emerging risks. Key discussions included enhancing Belize’s DRM coordination framework and policy, including addressing evolving threats such as cybersecurity and other technological risks, and identifying strategic initiatives to further build national resilience. The discussion also revisited Belize’s progress in advancing accessible, inclusive, multi-hazard early warning systems under the EW4All initiative and explored ways to further strengthen risk knowledge as part of the country’s long-term resilience efforts.
The engagement builds on previous high-level discussions held in August 2025, reaffirming the shared commitment to deepening cooperation and aligning national priorities with international frameworks for disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.
Minister Usher expressed appreciation for the continued partnership with the United Nations and underscored the Government’s commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness, improving institutional capacity, and modernizing public service systems to effectively respond to both traditional and emerging risks.
Ms. Carusi highlighted the importance of proactive risk governance and integrated approaches to disaster risk reduction across sectors, while Mr. Salazar reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting Belize through coordinated technical assistance and strategic programming designed to deliver measurable impact for the Belizean people.
The meeting concluded with agreement to maintain close communication and continue collaborative efforts under the UN country work programme, ensuring that Belize remains proactive in addressing climate-related hazards, technological threats, and other emerging risks while advancing sustainable national development.
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Press Release Hon. Henry Charles Usher, Minister of the Public Service and Disaster Risk Management, along with Mr. Rolando Zetina, Chief Executive Officer, convened a high-level meeting on February 12, 2026, with Ms. Saskia Carusi, Deputy Chief of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) – Regional Office for the Americas and the
The post Minister Usher Meets with UN Officials on Disaster Risk Management appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
